M.Mus (UofT) in-progress
B.Mus (Eastman)
Gordon is a percussionist and educator interested in performing, creating, and engaging within a multitude of musical styles, invested in how music might be embodied in a variety of forms through joyful exploration.
From Tampa, Florida, Gordon became acquainted with music through piano lessons, eventually moving on to drum set and marching percussion in high school. In 2019, Gordon completed his undergraduate studies at the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Michael Burritt. At Eastman Gordon performed and premiered works with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Eastman Percussion Ensemble, and Musica Nova in addition to serving for two years on the board of the student-led new music ensemble, Ossia.
He is also interested in the intersection between music and technology and has contributed to creative projects with the Eastman Audio Research Studio and the University of Toronto Percussion Ensemble.
Gordon is currently working towards completing his Master’s degree at the University of Toronto under the instruction of Aiyun Huang.
Get to know Gordon…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, watching movies, reading, spending time outside, tossing a frisbee and playing Spikeball
Musical influences: Rush, Mutemath, Max Roach, My Brightest Diamond, Son Lux, Rachel Podger, Michael Burritt, Steve Schick, Paul Rennick, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Jess Ray, Mark Andre…
Favourite food: Kanafeh (Middle-Eastern dessert)
Least favourite food: Brussel sprouts
Favourite music: Rock, Jazz, Contemporary Classical, Indie-folk, Electronic
Favourite song: One favorite is Humble Heart by Jess Ray
Favourite movie: Another favorite is Tree of Life by Terrence Malick
Favourite movie music: Bernard Herman in Vertigo, Ennio Morricone in Once Upon a Time in the West
Favourite musical theatre/opera: Hamilton, Invisible Cities by Christopher Cerrone
Best quote from your teacher: “Listen…”
Favourite quote: Romans 8:37-39
Favourite book: The Giver by Lois Lowry
Best thing about teaching at ABC: Sharing music with the students.
Latest Homework from Gordon
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March 23rd Assignments
Sebastian
What to practice: This week Sebastian I want you to work on the Lesson 3 beats and reading as well as Another One Bites the Dust
How to practice effectively: Good work today Sebastian! For Another One Bites the Dust, spend a couple minutes working on the beat by itself, then try putting on the music at a slow speed and try playing along. Remember when you’re playing with music you have to be actively listening to stay in time. Try to work in the fills if you can! In addition, work on Lesson 3 and write in the counts (1+2+3+4+) for the reading above the notes, then try counting it out loud while clicking your sticks, then try playing it on the drum. For the beats, just go slowly and if its helpful try writing the counts for the bass drum underneath the notes as well.
Most of this is the same from last time but it still applies!
Lucas
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: For the next couple weeks Lucas I want you to write in the counts above the notes in the Reading for Lesson 7
How to practice effectively: So for Lesson 7, write out the counts above the notes first, then count the rhythms out loud, and then finally try to count the rhythms and play them at the same time. If you’re feeling adventurous try playing some of the beats too!
Also if you still want to refer back to my video about how to play the bridge for Another One Bites the Dust, you can check that out here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eZzq1bNlxJITT5rXPj0D439i9YjVamq-/view?usp=sharing
Great to see you again today!
Jonah
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: This week Jonah I want you to work on Lesson 13 Reading and Beats, here is the video I made to help: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z8sbQp1mhvKWPvneeFPFwrqAtkikqS7V/view?usp=sharing
Also, here is an article to help explain how different notes are related to each other, it should help with this lesson: https://www.schoolofcomposition.com/music-notation/
How to practice effectively: Hey Jonah, good work today! The Lesson 13 beats still need a bit more practice but you’ve got a great start on it. Be sure to check out my video if you need some reference to how the beats sound! Hopefully soon we can start a new song!
Thanks for a fun lesson as always!
Samson
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: Your assignment this week Samson is to finish playing through Todd Rundgren’s It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference. Here is the UPDATED TRANSCRIPTION.
How to practice effectively: First, check out my video!! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dpRnvgQnxVGb170Cutx89abLskSNlVOc/view?usp=sharing
At this point, work through all the trouble spots, including this fill and all the other tricky ones that come earlier. Go through them one at a time and then try bigger chunks. From those bigger chunks try running through the whole thing! Next week we’ll go through the whole song and then start some new stuff.
Be sure to have your mom send your vaccine info to ABC if you want to start meeting in person, that would be awesome, have a happy March Break!
Samuel
How many minutes to practice: 3omins
What to practice: This week Sam, in addition to working on the Moeller/Push-pull technique for the hi-hat we covered today, I want you to practice the Stick Control exercise with the feet and the first part of Come Home by Anderson .Paak which I breakdown in this video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/128x12biveBwmXr3JQ2LhLs70vyW485Rv/view?usp=sharing
How to practice effectively: For the hi-hat technique stuff we covered today, try alternating between playing the hi-hat with 100% wrist and pulsing with the forearm every other note. Work it slowly every day and try it a little faster at the end of every practice session. Feel free to check out other videos that talk about playing fast 16th note beats like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NsBpjAoYl4&ab_channel=thedrummersalmanac
For the Stick Control exercise, do each cell slowly with the hands before adding the feet. Only move on to the next sticking pattern when you feel ready. For Come Home, I break down how the drums go in the verse and the chorus sections in the first half of the song. Try following along and playing with the song if you can. If you’re feeling brave, try to see if you can figure out what changes in the second half of the song and how that part goes.
Great job today dude, have a good trip!
Preferred Books for Gordon’s Students
Click to buy them here, and they’ll come right to your house! What could be easier?
STICK CONTROL
George Lawrence Stone’s Stick Control is the bible of drumming. In 1993, Modern Drummer magazine named the book one of the top 25 books of all-time. In the words of the author, it is the ideal book for improving: control, speed, flexibility, touch, rhythm, lightness, delicacy, power, endurance, preciseness of execution and muscular coordination, with extra attention given to the development of the weak hand.
Reading, Rudiments, and Rock Drumming
This beginner book contains the basic 3 R’s of drumming-Reading, Rudiments, and Rock, in an easy to learn format.
Intermediate Snare Drum Studies
The Art of Bop Drumming
The definitive book on bop drumming—a style that is both the turning point and the cornerstone of contemporary music’s development. This comprehensive book and audio presentation covers time playing, comping, soloing, brushes, more jazz essentials, and charts in an entertaining mix of text, music, and pertinent quotes.
